Shelf arrangement and bracket therefor

ABSTRACT

A shelf arrangement comprising two or more wire bracket members positively connected to a shelf member, each of said bracket members including an angularly extending upper extension terminating in a hook and a generally horizontally extending lower extension with said hook and the end of said lower extension being adapted to be lockably but detachably supported by aperture means.

United States Patent 11 1 Giambalvo [451 July 29,1975

1 1 SHELF ARRANGEMENT AND BRACKET THEREFOR [76] Inventor: Joseph Giambalvo, 1118 Willoughby Ave., Brooklyn, NY. 1 1237 [22] Filed: June 30, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 268,028

[52] U.S. Cl. 108/108; 108/152; 248/249 [51] Int. Cl. A47G 57/24 [58] Field 01 Search 108/108, 101,152,119,

108/144, 122; 211/176, 135,90; 248/240, 240.4, 244, DIG. 3, 235, 243, 249, 250

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,134 3/1891 Porter 248/74 X 453,536 6/1891 Bzirtholomcwm. 248/249 693,127 2/1902 Gardner 248/DIG. '1

883,001 3/1908 Curtis 211/90 X 920.633 5/1909 Oppenheimer 248/240 1,196,085 8/1916 Cole 48/249 1,201.595 10/1916 Kracmer 248/249 1,238,637 8/1917 Clark 248/249 X 1,343,119 6/1920 Dunlap 48/2 1,462,670 7/1923 Vuncc.... 21 I/135 2,252,025 8/1941 Olson.v 108/149 2,312,985 3/1943 Bales 248/ '1 2,538,958 1/1951 Augcnfeld 248/DIG. 3 2,933,195 4/1960 Radek 248/DIG. 3 2,954,125 9/1960 Husted 248/DIG. 3 3,018,898 1/1962 Frazclle 248/DIG. 3

3,031,161 4/1962 Hawie 248/DIG, 3 3,143,980 8/1964 Sperring.... 108/108 3,193,225 2/1965 Tcrlinde 248/DIG. 3 3,250,235 5/1966 McDonne1l.. 248/223 X 3,401,909 9/1968 Kalahar 248/DIG. 3

3,501,015 3/1970 Behels 248/DIG.3 3,654,879 4/1972 Ferdinand et a1... 108/111 3,669,034 6/1972 Marschak 248/DIG. 3

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,114,701 5/1968 United Kingdom.... 248/DIG. 3

184,778 8/1957 Sweden 248/DlG 3 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Broudy and Neimark [57] ABSTRACT A shelf arrangement comprising two or more wire bracket members positively connected to a shelf member, each of said bracket members including an angularly extending upper extension terminating in a hook and a generally horizontally extending lower extension with said hook and the end of said lower extension being adapted to be lockably but detachably supported by aperture means.

11 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures SHELF ARRANGEMENT AND BRACKET THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a shelf arrangement and support brackets therefor and in particular to brackets which are adapted to be removably inserted into channel posts, peg boards or the like with spaced apart apertures.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is highly developed insofar as shelf arrangements with spaced apart support brackets therefor, as exemplified, for example, by the US Pat. No. 2,954,125 of Husted. This patent discloses support brackets for use with metal trays having short flanges provided with notches cooperating with the bracket to prevent lateral displacement of the tray. The US. Pat. No. 3,193,225 of Terlinde is a further example of locking hooks for use on peg boards with a locking slot in the locking tip.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to' provide an improved shelf arrangement which may be quickly assembled or disassembled.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved shelf arrangement in which the shelf member is positively secured to the bracket members whereby lateral movement and/or accidental disassembly thereof is precluded.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a shelf bracket including means lockably securing it to the support post or the like.

For an understanding of the structural and functional details of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG; I is a view in perspective of a shelf arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a shelf arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the shelf arrangement of FIG. 1 taken along a vertical plane tangent to apertures in a support member;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of one form of the bracket in the shelf arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the bracket in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bracket in FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an alternative form of the bracket according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the bracket of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of a shelf arrangement according to another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective of a shelf arrangement according to still another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a shelf arrangement according to yet another embodiment of this invention incorporating the bracket illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a view in perspective of a shelf arrangement according to a further embodiment of this invention incorporating the bracket illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of yet another form of the bracket according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the shelf arrangement according to the present invention may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 as comprising at least two spaced apart resilient wire brackets 10 each of which includes an angularly extending upper extension 12 terminating in'a hook 11 at the upper end thereof. The lower end of upper extension 12 is formed with an angle to provide a generally horizontally extending lower extension 17. Hook 11 includes a generally horizontal portion with an upwardly directed notch 13 formed therein an an upwardly extending generally vertical end portion 15. Lower extension 17 terminates in end portion 19 and includes a downwardly directed notch 21 adjacent to but not at end portion l9'.

Each bracket 10 is positively secured to a shelf memher 14, which includes front and rear vertical flanges 16 and 23, respectively. Front flange may be reinforced at the lower end thereof by a horizontal flange 18. Each bracket 10, as mentioned above, is positively secured to shelf member -14 by apertures 20 and 22 of flanges 16 and 23, respectively, in which they are received.

Hook ll of upper extension 12 and end portion 19 of lower extension 17 are adapted to be inserted into vertically spaced apertures in supporting means such as channel postsC with oppositely directed notches l3 and 21 sprung apart to straddle the opposed edges of the respective apertures.

To assemble this shelf arrangement with brackets 10 (details of which are set forth in FIGS. 4-6), the lower extension 17 of each bracket 10 may be inserted into aligned apertures 20 and 22 of flanges l6 and 23, respectively of shelf member 14. End portion 15 of each bracket 10 is then inserted into horizontally aligned apertures in channel support members C as shown in phantom in FIG. 3. Upper and lower extensions 12 and 17 should be sprung apart sufficiently to ensure straddling of the associated apertures by notches l3 and 21. The end portions 19 may then be inserted into horizontally aligned apertures in the support member. Upon insertion of end portions 15 and 19 into their associated apertures with notches l3 and 21 biased into straddling relationship with the associated apertures a detachably locked supporting relationship is provided in a shelf arrangement. The shelf thus provided presents a flat plane surface.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS AND FORMS As a second embodiment of the present invention,

brackets may beused in combination with a shelf member 14' including an unreinforced vertically extending flange 16 as shown in FIG. 2. Also, the brackets 10 may be supported on a peg board B instead of channel supports.

In another embodiment which is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, brackets 10 are secured to a shelf member 14" in the form of a wooden slat or board by inserting lower extension 17 into eye-bolts 24 which have been attached-onto the lower surface of the shelf member.

Instead of eye bolts staples 24' may be driven part way into the lower surface of wooden shelf member 14" to embrace and positively connect the bracket with shelf member 14" as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

The bracket according to the present invention may also take the form illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 in which bracket 10' differs from the earlier described bracket 10, in that bracket 10 is formed with a U-shaped hook 11' including legs 13 and 15 on the end of upper extension 12'. The lower extension 17 with end portion 19 and notch 21, are otherwise similar to parts of bracket 10 designated by corresponding unprimed reference numerals.

. In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the bracket 10 is used in combination with shelf member 14. In this arrangement shelf member 14 is inverted from the position as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 2 to utilize a vertical flange 16 as a guard ledge.

As a further embodiment brackets 10 may be used in combination with shelf member 14' utilizing flange 16 as a ledge as illustrated in FIG. 15.

In another variation of the bracket according to this invention a bracket 10 may be provided as illustrated in FIG. 16 in which the diameter of the wire is smaller than the diameter of holes in the peg board. In this modification a generally vertical portion 17" extends from one end of lower portion 12". At the upper end of vertical portion 17" hook 11' is formed with notch 13" and end 15". Near the lower end of portion 17" a downwardly directed hook or locking tip 19" is welded thereat which hooks together spans the outside distance of two holes. On insertion of hook 19" into hole with downward pressure, it is locked onto the peg board to prevent its being pulled out accidentally.

It should be understood that various forms of shelf members could be utilized and various means could be used to form apertures through or attached to the shelf members.

It is to be understood that while several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, numerous other variations or modifications therein may occur to those having skill in this art and what is intended to be covered herein is not only the illustrated forms of the invention, but also any and all modified forms thereof as may come within the spirit of said invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf arrangement, comprising:

supporting means having vertically spaced perforations therein;

at least two open triangle brackets, each consisting of two sides, one of said sides comprising an upper extension terminatingin a hook having a depressed portion therein, and the other of said sides comprising a generally horizontally extending lower extension connected at one. end to the end of said upper extension opposite said hook and terminating at the other end thereof without the axis thereof departing from said generally horizontal line, the terminal end thereof having a downwardly directed notch therein, said upper extension extending from said horizontally extending lower extension at an acute angle, said upper and lower extensions being resiliently biased to a rest position at which said hook and the end of said lower extension are farther apart than the vertically spaced perforations of said supporting means in which said brackets are engaged; and

a shelf member having at least two apertures through which said lower extensions of respective ones of said brackets extend to support said shelf member in a horizontal position, thereby positively connecting said brackets with said shelf member, the depressed portion of said hook and the notch in the terminal end of said lower extension of each of said brackets lockably engaging the said vertically spaced perforations in said supporting means.

2. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1.

wherein the depressed portion of said hook in said brackets is a notch in the surface thereof directed upwardly.

3. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hook in said brackets is generally U shaped, opening upwardly, the bottom of the U forming said depressed portion.

4. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said brackets are formed from metal wire or like wire-shaped resilient material.

5. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shelf member includes generally vertically extending flanges and said apertures are through said flanges.

6. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein at least one of said flanges is reinforced by a generally horizontally extending extension.

7. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is a slat or board with apertureforming means attached to the lower surface thereof forming said apertures.

8. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein said aperture-forming means is at least one staple partially inserted into the lower surface ofsaid slat or board, said aperture being defined on one side by the slat or board and on the remaining sides by the staple.

9. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein said aperture-forming means is at least two eye bolt.

10. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a channel post having vertically shaped perforations therein.

11. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a perforated support board. 

1. A shelf arrangement, comprising: supporting means having vertically spaced perforations therein; at least two open triangle brackets, each consisting of two sides, one of said sides comprising an upper extension terminating in a hook having a depressed portion therein, and the other of said sides comprising a generally horizontally extending lower extension connected at one end to the end of said upper extension opposite said hook and terminating at the other end thereof without the axis thereof departing from said generally horizontal line, the terminal end thereof having a downwardly directed notch therein, said upper extension extending from said horizontally extending lower extension at an acute angle, said upper and lower extensions being resiliently biased to a rest position at which said hook and the end of said lower extension are farther apart than the vertically spaced perforations of said supporting means in which said brackets are engaged; and a shelf member having at least two apertures through which said lower extensions of respective ones of said brackets extend to support said shelf member in a horizontal position, thereby positively connecting said brackets with said shElf member, the depressed portion of said hook and the notch in the terminal end of said lower extension of each of said brackets lockably engaging the said vertically spaced perforations in said supporting means.
 2. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein the depressed portion of said hook in said brackets is a notch in the surface thereof directed upwardly.
 3. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hook in said brackets is generally U shaped, opening upwardly, the bottom of the U forming said depressed portion.
 4. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said brackets are formed from metal wire or like wire-shaped resilient material.
 5. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shelf member includes generally vertically extending flanges and said apertures are through said flanges.
 6. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 5 wherein at least one of said flanges is reinforced by a generally horizontally extending extension.
 7. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said shelf member is a slat or board with aperture-forming means attached to the lower surface thereof forming said apertures.
 8. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein said aperture-forming means is at least one staple partially inserted into the lower surface of said slat or board, said aperture being defined on one side by the slat or board and on the remaining sides by the staple.
 9. A shelf arrangement as recited in claim 7 wherein said aperture-forming means is at least two eye bolt.
 10. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a channel post having vertically shaped perforations therein.
 11. A shelf arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises a perforated support board. 